Harris County School District hires principal, assistant principal from Muscogee County
A principal and an assistant principal in Muscogee County are leaving for leadership positions in Harris County schools.
During its meeting Thursday night, the Harris County Board of Education officially welcomed the hiring of Midland Middle School principal Jennifer Sappington to be the next principal of Creekside Intermediate School and Hardaway High School assistant principal Dee Miller to be an assistant principal at Harris County High School.
The moves are effective July 1.
Sappington, a 19-year educator, has been Midland’s principal for three years. She told the Ledger-Enquirer in a phone interview Friday morning that it was a hard decision to leave MCSD but she wants to work in the school system her children attend and in the county where her family has lived since 2016.
“It’s just an opportunity to spend more time with my family,” she said. “I love Muscogee County, and I love my Midland family, but it’s just a chance to be closer to home and be able to attend Harris County events that my kids are a part of more often.”
Sappington will replace Lindie Snyder, who left Creekside last month to become Harris County High School’s principal. Snyder replaced Tyler Dunn, who became coordinator of the new HCHS Science and Technology Center, which is being developed in the former Harris County Carver Middle School building.
Muscogee County School District superintendent David Lewis has recommended Spencer High School assistant principal Keisha Cook to replace Sappington as Midland principal. The MCSD board is scheduled to vote on that recommendation during Monday’s meeting.
Sappington taught social studies at Hardaway and Northside high schools and Aaron Cohn Middle School. She became academic dean at Midland in August 2014. After being appointed as the shared assistant principal between Carver and Shaw high schools in October 2015, she returned to Midland as assistant principal in July 2016. She succeeded the retired Barrie Clarke as principal in 2019.
Asked why he recommended Sappington to be hired, HCSD superintendent Roger Couch told the L-E in an email, “Mrs. Sappington brings with her a great skill set as well as a strong background and focus on student achievement. She is a great addition to our administrative team.”
Sappington earned her three college degrees from Columbus State University: a bachelor’s in secondary social studies education, a master’s in educational leadership, and specialist’s in education.
Miller previously taught physical and special education and coached baseball at Northside, Pacelli Catholic and Jordan Vocational high schools.
“With a broad range of high school experience and knowledge in numerous high school areas, Mr. Miller was selected and came highly recommended by Mrs. Snyder,” Couch said.
The L-E didn’t reach MIller for comment before publication.
Miller will fill the assistant principal spot vacated by Donna Patterson, who last month was promoted to HCSD’s newly created position of curriculum and instruction director for grades 6-12. Dave Dennie, previously the curriculum and instruction director for the whole district, now focuses on grades K-5.
This story was originally published April 15, 2022 at 11:45 AM.
